F E E D - P O I N T |
The Official Newsletter of the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association |
May 2003 Vol. 13 No.5 |
Letter From Our President Dear Fellow Hams, EchoLink contacts were waiting to hear when the last of the huge snow pile on the north side of our house disappeared. It was gone on May 21st. With the nice spring weather, canoeists have appeared on the river. As in years past, KA1OOW made his St. John River trip and used the 146.715 repeater, as well as the 146.640 repeater to get messages to his XYL, N1UYB, with me as a relay. The SJVARA has been asked to provide radio coverage for the senior
class canoe trip from the American Dream to Riverside Park. I will be on
hand to help, and KW1C will also. If there is some one else who can help,
please contact me. |
N1KGS has completed the first Hybrid Emergency Communications Course with three students, N1XNU, KE1JQ, and N1FG. We studied the book, did the activities listed (most required going on the computer to check out various web sites), and answered the questions at the end of each of the 20 Learning Units. N1KGS met with us on 146.730 on Wednesday evenings to discuss our work on 5 lessons per week. The final test of 25 questions, taken from the unit questions, was taken on line. I know N1KGS was hoping for more students, but we do appreciate the fact that he was willing to do it with three of us. Hopefully, more people will take the course soon.
Address comments, questions, or suggestions to:
Next Meeting: Tuesday, June 3, 6 PM, Alumni Conf.erenceRoom, |
Date |
Event |
Place |
Contact |
Sponsor |
Time |
Freq |
SUN |
Net |
NB |
VE1PIN |
IRG |
2000 |
145.130 |
MON |
Net |
Fort Kent |
N1FG |
SJVARA |
1900 |
146.64 |
MON |
Net |
Presque Isle |
WA1YNZ |
AARA |
2000 |
146.73 |
| Page 2 Feed-Point, May, 2003 |
Report of May 6, 2003 Meeting Called to Order: 19:05 Secretary's Minutes : Old Business: 2. The 146.715 Repeater: N1CHF will be working on a mount for new antenna to go up this summer (See Page 3 for his plan). 3. No contact has been made with the Presque Isle group about linking 146.640 to 146. 730. 4. Dues are Due: Some still
owe dues. Keep your membership up to date please. |
New Business:
1. Youth Involvement Brainstorming: With not many
people at the meeting this was limited. Ideas presented: Church Groups,
Set up in a lobby somewhere ( hospital? school? University?) KA7VNR will
check Van Buren Schools. N1FG will check with Wisdom High School. 3
day class with a handheld to all who get license. 2. Hand out: "Jump Kit" A list of the items recommended for those who wish to respond to a communications ,emergency including radio equipment, spare batteries, clothing, food, and lists of contacts. A short one for first responders for the first 12 hours, and a longer one for the long term. These lists are so you will be prepared and won't have to waste time gathering things when the time arrives to respond. 3. Other: Set up an emergency training session. An airplane crash on a mountain was suggested. Set up a special event: Perhaps at the Block House, with a
certificate. Get the Canadians involved at their block house. The purpose
would be to get all ages interested in ham radio. 4. Photos Sent by N1HPU: Ben sent digital photos of before and after shots of the crumbled Old Man In The Mountain in NH and some of the Mt. Washington Cog Railway. Thanks, Ben.
Adjourned: 20:11 Submitted by: N1FG |
|
Congratulations to
KA7VNR,
who recently
passed her Extra Class License test.
|
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
TO:
Sam Barret 6-06
Russ Beaulieu 6-19 |
| Page 3 Feed-Point, May, 2003 |
Replacement Antenna For Rocky Mountain
The Rocky Mt.
antenna project is finally underway. Before I tell you how it's
progressing, perhaps I should tell you what I have planned. We want to put
up a vertical, just like the one currently on 64, to replace the beam
that's there now. Actually, we're going to use the old 64 antenna.
However, we can't just replace the beam with the vertical, that would
place it too close to the tower, and too low. The plan is to put it on a
mast on the cabin. Not on the top of the mast though, but on the side.
Why? For two reasons. First, to place it above the cabin with all the wind
and ice it would see at 2000 feet would just be asking for trouble. And
second, side mounting it would give us another 3 dB of gain in a direction
of our choosing. So, the plan is to mount an 18 foot mast shaped like a J
on the cabin with 5 feet extending above, and 5 feet extending below. With
such short extensions, whipping will be minimized. Mounted on the short
side of the J, about 19 inches away, will be the antenna. The top of the
antenna will never be higher than the mast, and there will be an insulated
support near the top joining the two, also to minimize whipping. The whole
mast will rotate approximately 250 degrees, allowing us to position the
antenna's main lobe wherever we want it.
Here is what we have so far. I bought a 21 foot, 1 1/4" schedule 40
galvanized pipe which will be cut into two pieces - one eighteen footer,
and a three footer. The three footer will be used to mount the antenna. I
also bought 2 ninety degree elbows to make the bottom section, and 2 tees
to support the top of the short section. I've drilled weep holes in the
elbows as well as bolt holes to lock the sections in place. That's it
for now. I still need to get some short sections of pipe and another tee.
Once the mast is done, I'll need to get some steel angle for the mounts,
drill them and paint them. Then I'll need some clamps. Maybe next time, I
can send pictures. Or bring them. Have a good
meeting. 73, Steve
|
Repeater News
In warmer
weather people start working on antennas. The first I know of to do so is
NM1R in Mars Hill. He called for a signal report on 146.640 on May 22nd.
He was coming in full quieting. He had just taken down a Ringo Ranger
that was not working well, and replaced it with a Diamond antenna. I
told him he is welcome to check into our net every Monday at 19:00. I wish
more of you would check in!
This e -mail was forwarded to me by several people. I have replied to both questions.
"Good Morning, My name
is Dave Lyles (call sign KE4AUE). I am helping to organize a Boy Scout
trip to Maine this July ( 13 boys ages 14-18 and 4 adults ). We will be
climbing Mt. Katahdin on Tues. July 15. We will then canoe the Allagash
Wilderness Waterway from Eagle Lake to Allagash Village from Wed. July 16
to Wed.July 23. Naturally I'll be taking my 2 meter handheld radio with me
to use in the vent of an emergency while on the mountain or the Allagash
Waterway.
1. Which Ham radio towers in that area would be the best to try and each
?
FIELD DAY
N1KGS has
spoken with Vernon Ouellette about our operating for Field Day at the EOC
at Loring. Max says we will have to put up one antenna for a second radio. Operating from an EOC is a new category for field day. |
For Sale Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel tower, 16" x 16" x
16". Includes mounting hardware. Best Offer. |
A Bit of Humor
Let's do this in one foul sweep. * There are a lot of famous buildings
in Italy, like the Leaning Tower of Pizza. * They live far away, out in
the boondoggles. * I'm going to have to cut down the walnut tree
because it is infested with magnets. *
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| Page 4 Feed-Point, 2003 |
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